Floods Hit Bima NTB, 108 Hectares And 5,557 Affected Residents

Residents evacuated a pickup truck that was dragged by the flood in Kananta Village, Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, Saturday (1/4/2023). (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Bima Regency)

NTB - The floods that hit 7 sub-districts in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) affected 5,557 residents.

Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said the data was compiled by his party on Tuesday, April 4 at 10.45 WIB.

"The water level varies, ranging from 50 to 100 cm," he said in a written statement, Wednesday, April 5, which was confiscated by Antara.

Floods in Bima submerged 1,661 houses, 108 hectares of rice fields, and one elementary school in Lambitu, Madapangga, Bolo, Laggudu, Monta, Woha, and Palibelo sub-districts in Bima Regency.

Abdul said, based on Bima BPBD monitoring, the flood had receded and left piles of materials in the river.

Therefore, heavy equipment is deployed to clean up garbage piled up under the Penapali Bridge so as not to block the flow of river water.

Abdul said that cross-agency coordination had been carried out to accelerate the handling of the impact of flooding, including providing assistance for residents affected by the flood.

"Among them are the provision of ready-to-eat food, clean water, and the establishment of public kitchens to meet basic needs," he said.

Floods have hit parts of Bima Regency since Saturday April 1. The disaster has resulted in one person dying and causing settlements and rice fields to be inundated.

According to the weather forecast of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), rain with light to moderate intensity has the potential to fall in the Bima Regency area on Thursday 6 April.

"BNPB appeals to stakeholders and the public to increase preparedness and vigilance," said Abdul.

He also reminded the importance of disseminating information regarding early warning of flooding to residents if high-intensity rain continued to fall in more than an hour.

"Submission of this information is carried out in stages at the RT/RW level regarding early warning alerts if high-intensity rain occurs continuously for more than an hour, so that people can anticipate the risk of danger by considering mitigation steps that must be taken before a disaster occurs," said Abdul Muhari.